Qualcomm unveiled the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chipset for Windows PCs back in October 2023. Fast-forward to now, and we're just a month away from getting our hands on Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. Ahead of the debut, we take a look at the x86 and ARM architectures, the issues that have plagued the Windows platform for so long, and what the future holds for ARM-based processors on Windows.
Snapdragon X Elite Review after 2 months: Laptop Revolution!
The x86 architecture has powered Windows since the 1980s. Intel developed the first 32-bit architecture processor based on the 8086 microprocessor. Later, AMD implemented the 64-bit architecture in the early 2000s. Fast forward to today, and a majority of Windows computers are powered by the x86-64 architecture.
For nearly four decades, the x86 architecture has proven itself by scaling performance to meet the demands of modern computing on Windows. However, efficiency has been one of its biggest challenges, leading to more energy consumption and heat generation.
While Windows laptops offer good performance, they are also, well, known for offering the worst battery life. In my experience of using Windows laptops for more than a decade, I have never seen a laptop with a battery life of more than 3 to 4 hours. And even if it did in the beginning, the battery life degrades quickly.
